Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s alright, sweetheart. Whatever\u2019s going on, I\u2019m here for you.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Always.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her words seemed to reach him. Kevin\u2019s small hands smoothed\u00a0<\/p>\n
out the wrinkled drawing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine glanced at it, remembering Nanette\u2019s earlier\u00a0<\/p>\n
remarks. A wave of discomfort swept through her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Kevin pointed with his chubby finger and explained, \u201cThis is Dad, this is me, and this\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is you, Mommy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s breath caught.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stared at the figure on the page, her eyes wide with\u00a0<\/p>\n
disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She almost thought she had misheard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin had called that figure \u201cMom.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSay that again, Kev,\u201d she whispered, her voice trembling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin sniffled, his voice soft but clear. \u201cIt\u2019s me, Daddy, and\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mommy walking together. You\u2019re holding my hand, and we\u2019re on\u00a0<\/p>\n
the street.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, my\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s heart swelled, a rush of emotion crashing over her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tears pricked her eyes as she pulled Kevin into a fierce hug, her\u00a0<\/p>\n
arms wrapping around him tightly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBaby, I knew you had me in your heart,\u201d she murmured, her\u00a0<\/p>\n
voice thick with love.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She squeezed him so hard that Kevin squirmed, gasping,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy\u2026 I can\u2019t breathe\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine laughed, loosening her grip with an embarrassed\u00a0<\/p>\n
smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOops, sorry, sweetheart. I got carried away. I was so happy\u2026 I\u00a0<\/p>\n
thought you saw me as some dark, scary thing in your heart.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin\u2019s cheeks flushed, and he shook his head frantically.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no, Mommy\u2019s not scary! You\u2019re not\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice faltered. He knew she\u2019d seen his earlier drawings\u2013the\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
ones that had painted a far harsher picture.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tears spilled over again, splashing onto Madeleine\u2019s hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Kev, don\u2019t cry,\u201d she said, gently wiping his cheeks.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, honey?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMommy,\u201d Kevin sobbed, his shoulders shaking. \u201cDid you see\u00a0<\/p>\n
those other drawings? Are you mad at me? Do you\u2026 not like me\u00a0<\/p>\n
anymore?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine froze, her heart breaking as she realized the source of his pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His tears kept coming, endless, no matter how much she wiped\u00a0<\/p>\n
them away.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll never draw again,\u201d Kevin hiccuped, his voice small and\u00a0<\/p>\n
broken. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Mommy. I didn\u2019t mean to make you sad.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cKev,\u201d Madeleine said, her tone soft but firm, carrying a quiet\u00a0<\/p>\n
strength.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStop crying for a second and look at me, okay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin sniffled, forcing his teary eyes to meet hers. His little body still trembled, but he tried so hard to hold back the sobs,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
his effort both funny and heart\u2013wrenching.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSweetheart, I completely understand why you drew those\u00a0<\/p>\n
things before,\u201d Madeleine said, brushing away another tear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not your fault. It\u2019s mine\u2013for not being the mom you\u00a0<\/p>\n
needed, for not making you feel safe.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin clung to her sleeve, his small hands trembling.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut\u2026 I made you look so scary.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I was harsh with you back then, wasn\u2019t I?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine pulled him close, patting his back gently. \u201cI promise,\u00a0<\/p>\n
from now on, I\u2019ll smile more. I\u2019ll play with you and be there for\u00a0<\/p>\n
you. How\u2019s that sound?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin\u2019s eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly, burrowing into her\u00a0<\/p>\n
embrace.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then, as if remembering something, he lifted his head. \u201cBut Dr.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Clark said\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s expression sharpened, though she quickly\u00a0<\/p>\n
softened it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did Dr. Clark say, honey?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin hesitated, biting his lip.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was a secret, one he\u2019d promised not to share. But this was his\u00a0<\/p>\n
mom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDr. Clark said\u2026 you don\u2019t like me. She said I should stay with\u00a0<\/p>\n
her instead.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Madeleine\u2019s heart plummeted, a cold fury rising in her chest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She forced it down, keeping her voice gentle. \u201cDo you believe\u00a0<\/p>\n
her, Kev?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He shook his head, nuzzling closer. \u201cNo\u2026 you hugged me so\u00a0<\/p>\n
many times today. You said you\u2019d play with me\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Madeleine said, kissing the top of his head. \u201cNo\u00a0<\/p>\n
matter what anyone says, always remember: Mommy loves you\u00a0<\/p>\n
more than anything.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outside the door, Roderick stood frozen, having overheard\u00a0<\/p>\n
every word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His eyes grew colder, a storm brewing within them. He turned\u00a0<\/p>\n
and strode toward his study.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was time to dig into Nanette\u2019s true motives.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nanette must have said something to Kevin, but whatever it\u00a0<\/p>\n
was, it hadn\u2019t loosened his newfound attachment to Madeleine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After dinner, he trailed her like a shadow, his little feet pattering\u00a0<\/p>\n
wherever she went.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m heading to the bathroom,\u201d Madeleine said, pausing at the door and glancing back at the small boy gazing up at her with\u00a0<\/p>\n
wide, earnest eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou coming in too?\u201d she teased, raising an eyebrow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kevin frowned. He remembered his kindergarten teacher saying\u00a0<\/p>\n
that boys weren\u2019t supposed to watch when girls went to the\u00a0<\/p>\n
bathroom.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He shook his head and said seriously, \u201cI\u2019ll stand guard for you\u00a0<\/p>\n
outside.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cStand guard?\u201d Madeleine raised a brow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to stop Dad from going in,\u201d Kevin replied with utter\u00a0<\/p>\n
conviction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
From across the room, Roderick, mid\u2013sip of water, choked and\u00a0<\/p>\n
sputtered, coughing loudly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 31\u00a0<\/p>\n
Why would he ever go spy on Madeleine in the bathroom? What\u00a0<\/p>\n
kind of pervert did the kid think he was?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 32\u00a0<\/p>\n
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella\u2019s storytelling style is immersive and addictive\u2014perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.<\/p>\n
Night Carved Paths Into Silence by Zyrel Ash 31 Chapter 31\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s alright, sweetheart. Whatever\u2019s going on, I\u2019m here for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-heart-surgeons-last-patient-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29284"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29284\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}